Would You Be This Courageous?
Prompted to write this short post after seeing this post on Facebook. (MSN, if you have 'Facebook allergies'.)
"In a few days, I will lose two world titles, back to back." Because I decided not to go to Saudi Arabia. I refuse to play by special rules, to wear abaya, to be accompanied by a man so I can leave the hotel, so I don't feel like a second class person.
"I will follow my principles and not compete in the World Fast Chess and Blitz Championship where in just 5 days I could have won more money than dozens of other tournaments combined." This is all very nasty but the sad part is no one seems to care. Bitter feelings but can't go back. "
Anna Muzychuk
About That Old Quote.1
That all said, 2017 or 2024 - it takes courage to take any kind of stand against ‘the flow’, much less a principled one. The story reminded me of the much heralded Saudi launch of LIV back in 2022 - such furor at the time - hardly mentioned today, but it’s all the same theme …
Which brings me to the main story …
You have an idea, you create your company, you take money to kickstart the whole thing.
Core founding tenets of the business include ‘transparency’ and ‘social good’.
You launch ‘programmes of work’.
Everything is going swimmingly.
Until
One day it becomes clear that your original investment wasn’t as transparent as you thought. Turns out that the money source was so opaque that you realize that you have been unintentionally used in a money washing scheme.
Do You
continue as if nothing happened?
continue knowing it has happened with the intention of paying back the original investor as fast as you can and get back to core principles?
cancel the investment and return the money?
Easy Right?
Option 3. Except that means …
the three funded social good projects will quickly die without new funding
AND
your own company would be on the rocks without new funding.
Do you still take Option 3?
What would you do?
The quote dates back to 2017 - seven years ago - despite Facebook presenting it as if it has just happened. If you have Facebook allergies - it is understandable.